Piano-bench



C. F. KADE.

PIANO BENCH.

APPLICA 3,1918. 1,339,262. P tented May 4, 1920.

I 4. SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Zlwuwntm GiwierfiT/fade c. F. KADE.

PIANO BENCH.

ION FILED uo'v I APPLICAT 3, 1918. 1,339,262. Patented May4, 1920.

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6 WWW C. F. KADE.

PIANO BENCH.

APPLICATHJN FILED NOV-13.. 1918.

1,339,262. Patented May 4, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wwmwoao C. F. KADE.

PIANO BENCH.

APPLICATION FIL'ED NOV. 13. 1918.

1,339,262. Patented 4,1920.

4 SHE HEE 11111117 III 2 1 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. KADE, OF PLYMOUTH, WISCONSIN, ASS IGNOLR. TO CHARLES F. KADE, JR., 0F

' PLYMOUTH, WISCONSIN.

PIANO-BENCH.

Application filed November 13, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CrIAnLns F. KADE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plymouth, in the county of Sheb'oygan and State of lVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Piano-Benches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in articles of furniture, especially knock down piano benches with interchangeable parts.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved bench which forms a combination piano bench and piano player bench and which embodies in its construction a frame, a lower lid and an upper lid and means to enable the said lower and upper lids to be arranged horizontally to cover the frame or to be arranged with the upper lid in raised horizontal position or to be inclined in one direction to attach the bench for use as a piano bench and also enable the upper lid to be slightly elevated and inclined in the opposite direction to enable the bench to be used as a piano player bench.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for supporting the lower and upper lidsin raised position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination piano bench and piano player bench, the frame of which provides a box to receive sheet music, music rolls and the like when the bench is in use and to receive the supporting legs and stretcher when the bench is packed for stor age or shipment.

Another object of the invention is to effect improvements in the construction of the frame and the legs whereby the legs are detachably secured to the corners of the frame and whereby the screws or bolts which are employed to detachably secure the legs are relieved of the weight of the frame and of the person seated. on the bench, and such weight is imposed directly on the legs.

Another object of the invention is to effect improvements in the construction of the stretcher which connects and braces the legs whereby the stretcher can be detachably secured to the legs and whereby the parts of the stretcher can be detachable from one another. i

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved article of furniture of this kind embodying interchangeable legs of different designs so that legs of any de- Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented May4, 1920.

Serial No. 262,405.

Fi ure 1 is a )ers ective View f n I c' L l P. O a P O bench constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention, and showing the same closed.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same showing the lower and upper lids raised and the supports of the upper lid folded inwardly thereon and secured thereto.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same with the lower and upper lids partly raised and inclined in the same direction to adapt the bench for'use as a piano player bench.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same showing the lower and upper lids partly raised and inclined in opposite directions to adapt the bench for use as a piano player bench.

Fig. l is a similar view showing the lower and upper lids raised, to position the lower lid in inclined relation and the upper lid in raised horizontal relation.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan of one corner of the box frame and one supporting leg.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view of the same on the plane indicated by the line (36 of Fig. '5'.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional perspective view of the stretcher.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of one of the cross bars of the stretcher'and of one of the legs and showing the joint between them.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the bench showing the legs and stretcher packed in the box frame thereof and the upper lid raised and also showing a supporting link to hold the upper lid in raised position.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective View. ofone corner of a bench provided with legs and stretcher of a different design. 1

Fig. 11 is a similar view of the same with legs and stretcher of another design.

Fig. 12 shows one of the props in use.

Fig.1?) is an enlarged perspective showing the manner in which the upper corner of each leg is routed to receive a corner of the box or frame.

My invention is here shown as embodied in a piano bench which may be used either for piano playing or for a player piano. The frame 1 of the bench forms a box for the reception of sheet music, music rolls or the like, when the bench is in use and also for the reception of the legs and leg brace or stretcher when the bench is disassembled and is packed for storage or shipment. Said frame or box comprises front and rear rails 2, end rails 3 and a bottom at. The side and end rails are joined together at the corners, as at 5, and in each corner and in the an le betweenthe side and end rails is secure a block 6 which is triangular in plan so that its inner surface, which is exposed, is arranged diagonally, as at 7.

Each leg 8 is provided on the inner side and at the upper end with a vertical recess 9the sides 10 of which are at right angles to each other so that said recess is adaptedto receive one corner of the frame.

Thecorner of the frame also bears firmly on thebottom 11 of the recess. The depth of the recess is such that the corner is arranged substantially in the center of the leg and each leg is detachably secured in place by a screw 12 which is arranged diagonally and-passes through the block and the corner joints and enters the leg, as shown. Hence, the legs are securely and detachably fastened to the corners of the frame and owing to the fact that the corners of; the frame enter the recesses in the legs and bear on the bottoms of the recesses the screws are entirely relieved of theweight of the frame or box.

Thelegs are secured together and braced by a stretcher 13 which comprises a longitudinal bar 14 and cross bars 15 which are arranged at theends of said bar l l Each cross bar is provided on its inner side at the center with a vertical dovetail groove 1.6 and the bar 14- 1s provided at each end with a vertical dovetail tongue 17, said tongues bard/t in. place. Hence, the stretcher members 141;, 15 are detachably secured together and;the stretcher members, as well as the legs, can bepacked in the box frame 1 to greatly reduce the size of the piano bench for-shipment and enable a great economy to be effected in freight. charges, as will be understood; The cross bars'lz") are provided at. the ends witlroutwardly extending downwardly, inclined dowels andthe legs are each provided with an inclined opening '21 to receive. one of the dowels- Hence, the

cross bars are detachably secured to the legs. \Vhen the bench is set up and it is desired to permanently secure the legs and stretcher, a small-quantity of glue can be used in the joints between the bar 14 and cross bars 15 and also on the dowels 20 to glue such parts together and as will be understood.

In practice, the legs may be made of a variety of patterns, and legs of any pattern or design used in connection with the box frame, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and the stretcher may also be made in a variety of patterns or designs, especially as to its cross bars so that the manufacturer of the piano bench may meet the demand of benches for various designs by employing the box frames of one design in connection with legs and stretchers of a variety. of designs.

The box frame of the bench is provided with a lower lid 22 and an upper lid 28, the said upper lid forming the seat of the bench. The lower lid is here shown asan open oblong rectangular frame comprising side rails 24; and end rails 25 which are jointed togetherat the corners of said lid as at 26. \Vithin the scope of the appended claims, however, the lower lid may be modified in construction. The lower lid has one side connected to one side of the box frame by means of hinges 27 which enable the lower lid to be raised and to be inclined in one direction. The upper lid is connected to the opposite side of the lower lid by hinges 28 which enable the upper lid to be closed down upon the lower lidor to be entirely or partly raised therefrom and to be inclined in the opposite direction'from the lower lid as well as rest in a raised horizontal position above the inclined lower lid, Fig. 4?. To support the lower and upper lids when they are both inclined in one position, as shown in Fig. 3, and the bench is for use as a piano bench, I provide props 29 which are arranged on the inner side of the box frame: at the side to or remote from the hinges 27 and are securedto said side by pivot screws 30 which enable said props to be turned down into the box frame, out. of the way, or to be raised for. use. When raised, the props bear'onpins 3l'with whichsaidside or front or rear rail is provided, the props having inclined lower portions 32andshoulders said shoulders bearing on saidpins and the latter. being. arranged out of line vertically, with respect to the pivot screws. Hence, the props, when raised, are firmlysupported and extend. upwardly-through the opening formedin the lower lid and, bear I directly under the bottom of theupper lid.

v Toenable theupper lid to besupported'in an inclined position above and'opposite the.

inclined lower lid, when, the bench :isfor use for a player piano. as shown-in. Fig. 5L, I; provide a pair of supports 33-whichr are hinged to the .under. side of the .uppenlid, as

at 34, and are arranged transversely with respect to the upper lid and near the ends thereof. These supports may be folded against the bottom of the upper lid and held in such position by spring catches 35 when not in use. l/Vhen in use, the legs 35 formed at the ends of said supports engage in grooves 36 in the upper edges of the end rails 3 of the box frame so that said supports are securely held against slipping and are enabled to firmly and securely hold the upper lid in the desired inclined and elevated position. To enable the upper lid to be supported in a raised horizontal position, above the inclined lower lid, I make use of the supports 33 and the props 29, as shown in Fig. 4; the longer legs only of the supports 33 bearing in the grooves in the end rails of the box frame, and the props 29 being positioned as shown in said figure under and in engagement with the lid 23. lVhen the props and supports are folded the lower lid closes directly on the upper side of the box frame and the upper lid closes directly on the top of the lower lid, both of said lids being thus arranged horizontally, and serving to close the top of the boX frame, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted from the foregoing that my improvement is possessed of such capacity that either one lid or both lids may be raised at once; also, that the upper lid is susceptible of being placed in four different positions; the upper lid being inclined in two of said positions and horizontal in the other positions.

lVhile I have herein shown and described my invention as embodying a piano bench, I would have it understood that other articles of furniture may be constructed in accordance with my invention.

I also wish to have it understood that modifications may be made in the form, proportion and construction of the several parts without departing from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An article of furniture of the class described comprising a frame having a lower lid hinged to one side thereof and an upper lid hinged to the opposite side of the lower lid and also having means to support said lids in. oppositely inclined positions.

2. An article of furniture of the class described comprising a frame, a lower lid hinged at one side to one side of the frame and adapted to be raised and inclined, an upper lid hinged to the opposite side of the lower lid and adapted to be raised and oppositely inclined with respect to the lower lid, props pivotally mounted in the frame and arranged, when raised, to bear under the upper lid, and supports arranged on the lower side of the upper lid and hingedly connected thereto, said lower lid having an opening'through which the said props and supports can pass and said supports being arranged to bear on the frame when in supporting position for the upper lid.

3. An article of furniture of the class described comprising a frame, a lower lid hinged at one side to one side of the frame and adapted to be raised and inclined, an upper lid hinged to the opposite side of the lower lid and adapted to be raised and oppositely inclined with respect to the lower lid, props pivotally mounted in the frame and arranged, when raised, to bear under the upper lid, and supports arranged on the lower side of the upper lid and hingedly connected thereto, said lower lid having an opening through which the said props and supports can pass and said supports being arranged to bear on the end members of the frame and said end members of the frame having grooves to receive the lower sides of said supports.

4. An article of furniture of the class described, comprising a frame, a lower openframe-like lid, hinged at one side to one side of the frame, an upper lid hinged to the opposite side of the lower lid and adapted to be raised and inclined oppositely to the lower lid, and supporting means complementary to the upper lid and arranged to work through the opening in the lower lid and support the upper lid on and in spaced relation to the frame.

5. An article of furniture of the class described, comprising a frame, a lower openframe-like lid, hinged at one side to one side of the frame, an upper lid hinged to the opposite side of the lower lid and adapted to be raised and inclined oppositely to the lower lid, and supporting means complementary to the upper lid and arranged to work through the opening in the lower side and support the upper lidon and in spaced relation to the frame; a portion of such supporting means being capable of being employed while the remainder thereof is idle, and the supporting means as a whole being constructed and arranged for the maintenance of the upper lidin two raised inclined positions and one raised horizontal position. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES F. KADE. 

